SOLAR eclipses are the ones not to look at, since it's not a good idea to stare into the sun. Lunar eclipses are as safe as staring at the moon at night, which is when they always occur (the earth is between sun and moon, so if you can see the eclipse, it's night). Use binoculars or a telescope if you want, it's perfectly safe.
I saw a solar eclipse about 12-14 years ago. I had a class in the late morning, so after class, I drove up to an area of higher elevation, drove thru the Burger King and got lunch, sat in the parking lot (not a real built-up area, just located there because of the highway exit), ate and watched.
It was weird. It's not exactly like dusk, or dawn, or night. It was dark, sort of like when the darkest storm clouds you've ever seen move in at mid-day, but there are a couple breaks in the clouds so that there are sunbeams coming thru, lighting up areas a few miles away. It's really hard to describe, but the light in the area was kind of like it would be under those conditions. It was dark-ish, but there was some small amount of dazzling bright light coming around the moon (the corona extended around the moon), so it made for an odd, surreal lighting effect you'd seldom see under any other circumstances.
The lighting effect, and the way the birds and insects acted was more interesting than actually viewing the moon blocking the sun. All the birds went back to their nest (I assume, since they weren't flying or foraging, as far as I could see), and started their evening calls.
I have a lunar eclipse story as well, but that would be entirely too on-topic to post now 🙂
No problem. Caught me by surprise - I didn't know about it until the day before either. When I found out it would be the last total lunar eclipse until December of 2010, I figured I'd post it. I used to be into astronomy a lot more than I am now, but I still have a casual interest.
I'm glad Sarge at least got a good look. Did you show the kids, or was it too late for them?
Here you go. No standing outside in the cold, no worrying about snow/rain/clouds/deer/skunks, no waiting for hours. . .see the eclipse in 30 seconds! Watch it as many times as you want, and pause the good parts!
